Chain



July 20, 1937. SQUISLING 2,087,479

CHAIN Filed Nov. 16, 1935 INVENTOR.

Patented July 20, 1937 UNITED ST PATENT OFFEQE 12 Claims.

This invention relates to chains, and especially though not restricted to small chains, both ornamental and utilitarian for electric light pulls, plumbing fixtures and similar uses.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved chain which is attractive in appear ance, strong, flexible, and resilient, and which can be easily and cheaply manufactured.

Another object is to provide a chain adapted to be made entirely of wire by simple automatic machinery in a continuous operation without Waste of material.

More specifically it is one of the objects of the invention to provide a chain having the appear ance of a series of beads.

With these and other objects in View which will appear as the description progresses, the invention resides in certain novel features of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes may be made from the precise embodiment shown without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. l is a plan view partially in section of one form of my improved chain;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1 of a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a corresponding view of still another form of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a corresponding View of another form of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a plan View partially in section of still another modification.

Referring to the drawing, the example of the invention shown in Fig. 1 includes a series of identical links I, each composed of a single length of Wire formed into a single coil or convolution 2 and an integral shank 3 projecting from the coil and disposed substantially in coincidence with the axis of the coil. The shank 3 of each link projects substantially parallel to the length of the chain through the coil 2 of the adjacent link Where it is held in place by shoulders l and 5. The shoulder 5 forms an enlarged head portion which is incapable of being withdrawn through the coil 2 and prevents separation of the links. The shoulder 4 prevents each link from sliding up the shank of the adjacent link. Together the shoulders form a groove in which the coil of the adjacent link is held. This construction provides a chain of great strength and flexibility.

In assembling the chain the shank 3 may be inserted in the partially formed convolution of 55 the adjacent link and the convolution subsequently closed or formed about the shank between the shoulders 4 and 5. The shanks may be formed by suitably swaging or otherwise treating the wire to form shoulders, as for example, in a rotary metal flowing machine of the floformer type, or the shoulders may be formed by circular depressions extending all around the shanks in the form of grooves. Of course wire may be used which already has been provided with suitable shoulders to be cut at the right intervals for links. The coil portion may be bent around these grooves between the shoulders, or may be secured in position by pressing it in position between the shouldersor by springing it on and clipping.

In the modifications shown in Figs. 3 and 4 each link consists of a plurality of coils or convolutions having an integral projecting shank similar to Fig. 1. In Fig. 3 the coils 6 are identical in size, the shank I being passed through and secured in the nearest coil of the adjacent link. In Fig. 4 the coils 8 of each link progressively increase in size from one end of the link to the other, the shank 5 being passed through and held in the smallest coil of the adjacent link.

In the modifications shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the links are formed of a plurality of coils gradually increasing in size from one end to the maximum at the center and then gradually decreasing in size to the other end, in effect forming a closed bead. The adjacent links are connected together by a shank, one end of which is connected to one link in any suitable manner and the other end of which is passed into the adjacent bead or link where the endmost or smallest coil retains the enlarged head l0. As described in connection with Fig. l the head may be formed on the end of the shank and passed through the partially closed endmost coil of the link which is thereafter closed around the shank to prevent withdrawal of the head.

As shown in Fig. 5, the shank H is formed integral with the coils l2, and as shown in Fig. 6

the shank I3 is a separate element having a head at each end. In assembling the latter formeach shank is placed with its headed ends in the adjacent links before the endmost coils are completely closed, and the coils thereafter closed around both ends of the shank to prevent withdrawal of the heads.

This form of chain lends itself particularly to fabrication from wire in an automatic machine by continuous operation. The wire may be resilient, or soft wire may be used in the forming operation and the chain later tempered to make the wire resilient, either method of manufacture resulting in an elastic or resilient chain, partictaining shoulders, the shank of one link being ularly' in the modification shown in Figs. 5 and 6. This provides a chain which will not readily break under the strain of a sudden pull or jerk.

If desired, the wire may be suitably plated or otherwise finished before or afterfabrication.

flexibly secured to the body portion of the next link by the retaining shoulders of said groove.

2. In a chain, a series of links, each link being formed of a single length of wire, said link having 5 a body portion of one or more coils, and a swaged projecting shank pointing essentially parallel to the length of the chain, the shank of one link being flexibly secured in a coil of the body portion of the next link at said groove provided for that purpose.

3. In a chain, a series of links, each link being formed of a single length of wire, said link having a body portion of one or more coils, a projecting shank pointing essentially parallel to the length of the chain, spaced shoulders .formed on the outer end of the shank, the proximal coil of one link encircling the shank of the next link between the shoulders thereof, the innerdiameter of the coil being'greater than the thickness of the link between the shoulders but less than the thickness 7 of the link at the shoulders.

4. In a chain, a series of links joined together,

each link including a ring and a projecting por-' tion bent at an angle essentially parallel to the length of the chain, said portion being provided with spaced shoulders the diameter of the opening of the ring being less than that of thediameter of the shank between the shoulders between which the ring of the next link in the chain encircles.

5. In a chain, a series of links joined together, each link composed of one or more coils and a relatively straight projecting shank pointing parallel to the length of the chain, the projecting shank provided with shoulders so that said shank may; be loosely encircled and engaged by the proximal coil of an adjacent link, the distal end of said projecting shank carrying one shoulder so that the coil will not pass through the circular aperture of said coil. a

6. In a flexible beaded chain, means for joining together and forming successive links of wire, each link being made up of a coiled portion and a shank portion and provided with a groove, said shank portion being essentially straight and pointing 'in the direction of the length of the chain. v

7. A chain comprising a series of similar links,

each link comprising one or more coils of wire 7 disposed transversely to the length ofthe chain,

said links being connected by shanks, each shank extending continuous at one end'from one link of the chain through a coil of the adjacent link, and means for preventing separation of the links comprising an enlarged headportion on the end and projecting substantially parallel to the length of the shank incapable of passing through said last mentioned coil. r

8. A chain comprising a series of identical links, each consisting of a single coil of wire disposed transversely to the length of the chain and a shank projecting from the coil substantially parlink, and a pair of shoulders on the shank discoil for holding the links together.

9. A chain comprising a series of similar links, each link having a plurality of coils disposed transversely to the length of the chain and collectively forming a bead, said links being connected by shanks, each shank being connected at one end to one link and projecting substantially parallel to the length of the chain into some of the coils of the adjacent link, and an enlarged head allel to the length of the chain, the shank of one link passing through the coil of the adjacent posed on opposite sides of said last mentioned provided on the end of each shank, said enlarged head being incapable of passing through the endmost coil of said adjacent link.

10. A chain comprising a series'of similar links, each link having a plurality of coils disposed transversely to the length of the chain and collectively forming a bead, said links being connected by shanks, each shank being disposed sub-. stantially parallel to the length of the chain and having its opposite ends disposedwithin adjacent links and means for preventing separation of the links comprising an enlarged portion on each end of the shank incapable of passing through the endmost coil of the link.

11. A chain comprising a series of flexibly connected similar links, each link consisting of a plurality of coils of wire disposed transversely to the length of the chain and collectively forming a, bead and an integral shank projecting outwardly fromthe bead substantially parallel to the length of the chain, the end of each shank being placed within therterminal coil of the adjacent link and means for preventing separation of the links comprising an enlarged head portion 12. An elastic chain comprising a series of similar links, each link having a plurality of coils of resilient wire of varying diameters disposed transversely to the length of the chain and collectively forminga bead, said links being connected by shanks, each shank being connected at one end to one link and projecting outwardly substantially parallel to the length of the chain through a coil of the adjacent link andtmeans for preventing separation of the links comprising an enlarged portion on the end of the shank incapable of passing through said last mentioned coil. 

